The Center has allowed states to use the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to provide ex-gratia assistance of Rs 50,000 to the next of kin of those who succumbed to Covid-19, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.

Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said that under the National Disaster Management Policy, the primary responsibility for disaster management, including disbursement of relief to the affected people, rests with the affected state governments.

He said the State Governments are undertaking relief measures in the wake of natural calamities with the SDRF assistance already available to them as per the approved norms of the Government of India. Rai said that in view of the spread of the coronavirus in India and the declaration of Covid-19 as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), through a special one-time permit, the central government has allowed the states to use the SDRF for containment measures for the financial years 2019-20, 2020- 21 and 2021-22.

“Further, based on the instructions issued by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), under Section 12(iii) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, on September 11, 2021, the Central Government authorized the States to use the SDRF to provide ex-gratia assistance of Rs.50,000 Rs to the next of kin of the deceased due to COVID-19,” he said in response to a written query.